• Government announcement –

The Government is amending the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act to speed up access to new agricultural and horticultural products for farmers, growers and industry, Environment Minister Nicola Grigg announced today.

The changes aim to enable New Zealand farmers and growers to access products that are available overseas more easily to control pests and invasive species, and for crop protection.

They will:

• streamline application processes
• make approval timeframes more predictable
• allow the temporary use of certain hazardous substances already approved overseas while a full New Zealand assessment continues
• clarify the use of the existing international regulator rapid assessment pathway
• enhance compliance, monitoring and enforcement under the HSNO Act.

“These changes remove unnecessary barriers and improve efficiency to put New Zealand businesses on an even playing field with their overseas competitors,” Ms Grigg said.

The amendment bill builds on recommendations from a 2024 Ministry for Regulation review.

“The Review found that while the current system effectively manages risks, the approval pathway is too slow and complex and adds unnecessary costs to businesses,” Ms Grigg said.

“Streamlining processes will give agrichemical companies, farmers, horticulturalists and other industries certainty and clearer regulatory pathways for new products.”

The proposed amendments also address the Review’s recommendation that duplication can be reduced by making better use of assessments by overseas regulators, while maintaining New Zealand-specific protections.

“Better regulatory settings for new products will support New Zealand’s primary sector to stay globally competitive and unlock growth and export potential,” Ms Grigg says.

The role of the Environmental Protection Authority as an independent regulatory decision maker is unchanged.

“The proposed amendments do not weaken current protections for people or the environment,” Ms Grigg said.

“They are about improving processes through smarter regulation and reflect the Government’s commitment to regulation that’s fit for purpose and effective.”

The Environmental Protection Authority has welcomed the announcement.

Fernando Torres-Vélez, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms General Manager, said:

“We want to support our farmers and horticulturalists to stay world leading by ensuring they have access to the latest products, when they are proven to be safe for both our health, and the health of our environment.

“The proposed changes will see improvements and new options for businesses applying to introduce chemicals, while still maintaining strong environmental and human health protections.

“There are also some changes to the new organisms rules to improve clarity.”

The EPA has worked closely with other agencies on these improvements to the HSNO Act.

Sources: Minister for the Environment and the Environmental Protection Authority